North Korean KN23 Missiles Now Able to Evade Ukrainian Air Defences

North Korean KN23 missiles, once prone to failure mid-flight, have significantly improved and are now capable of evasive maneuvers during their final trajectory phase, making them more challenging for Ukraine’s air defense systems to intercept.

This was reported by Anatolii Khrapchynskyi, Deputy Director General of a company specializing in electronic warfare systems and an aviation expert, who spoke on April 18 during a broadcast on Kyiv24.

Speaking on recent developments, Khrapchynskyi noted that the KN23 missiles have been notably upgraded during their use in combat over Ukraine. He attributed this improvement to the close military-technical cooperation between Pyongyang and Moscow. Referring to a recent missile strike on Kyiv, he explained:

“It’s about the final 30 kilometers (about 18.6 miles), which the missile covers in just 3 to 5 seconds — exactly the range where Patriot systems usually engage. But when the missile maneuvers, it becomes extremely difficult,” he said.

In earlier stages of deployment, the KN23 reportedly faced issues such as loss of control and in-flight disintegration. However, Khrapchynskyi emphasized that the current versions present a more serious challenge:

“Although the strike accuracy remains low, the missile can now evade air defense, making it a serious threat,” he noted.

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He also pointed out that Russia’s objective with such strikes is not necessarily precision targeting:

“Russia isn’t even trying to hit precise targets — its goal is different: to cause as many civilian casualties as possible.”

Khrapchynskyi warned that the collaboration between Russia and North Korea has considerably boosted Pyongyang’s military capabilities, posing additional risks not only for Ukraine but also for the broader Asia-Pacific region.

Given these developments, the expert stressed the need for Ukraine to go beyond simply expanding its Patriot missile inventory. Instead, he urged for long-term strategic solutions, including the development of advanced missile defense systems:

“Ukraine needs systems capable of intercepting missiles at altitudes up to 100 kilometers (about 62 miles), where their trajectory can no longer be altered.”

Previously, it was reported that North Korea’s involvement in Russia’s war against Ukraine has brought significant economic and military gains for Pyongyang, according to new analyses from South Korean and international sources.